Hannah Howell Read Online Free PDF Page A

outlaw gang, escape seemed impossible. Even if she found the means to escape, and the opportunity, there was no place to escape to.
    For a brief moment she fought the urge to cry. It would accomplish nothing and she really did not want to reveal such a weakness before the outlaws. Then, as the first tear oozed out from beneath her eyelid, she decided that if anyone deserved a good cry, she did. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she gave in to her tears. She prayed Hunter would not come to bed too soon.
    As he sipped his coffee, Hunter surreptitiously watched his reluctant and all too attractive guest. He was not sure he believed all she had told him, but, as she had said, why would she make up such a ridiculous tale? An accomplished liar would never use such a wild story. She was either telling the truth, or she was a very bad liar.
    He shook his head. She had looked him straight in the eye when she told her tale. If she was a bad liar telling a poor lie, there would have been some sign. Implausible as the tale was, he was beginning to think it true, or mostly so.
    There was one part of her tale he was not so sure of. From what the sheriff had said, she had a reputation in town. While it was highly possible the man Clovis had lied to puff himself up, it was also possible that she was lying about seducing the man. He had discovered early in life that women were very good at lying about that sort of thing. Well, if she was no virgin, he might enjoy her himself.
    And that, fool, could land you in even more trouble , he scolded himself.
    The last thing he needed now was any sort of entanglement, even one of the most basic sort. Some instinct warned him that with Leanne it would never be a simple matter of gratifying his lust. But in his mind’s eye he could see that small perfect breast, that silken ivory skin, and he was not sure his lust would tolerate being ignored, especially not when he was forced to keep her close at hand.
    Suddenly he realized the others were turning in. Cursing softly, he moved to do the same. He had claimed the girl as his and he had to act as if he meant to take her, or he would have more trouble than he needed. The minute he showed any reluctance or disinterest, Luke would step in.
    Sitting down on the edge of his bedroll, he yanked his boots off. What really had him concerned was the reason he had pulled his gun on Luke. The sharing of a woman only led to trouble, for few men could do it fairly or calmly, and even fewer women would tolerate it. Neither could he tolerate rape, and he knew the girl would have fought Luke as hard as she had fought the sheriff. Neither was the reason he had pulled his gun, however. He had simply loathed the idea of Luke touching her. His statement that she was his had more truth to it than he liked.
    It took only a moment after slipping beneath the blanket for Hunter to know his companion was not asleep. An instant later he knew she was weeping and he silently cursed. Women’s tears never failed to move him. He could not ignore them, even when he knew they were simply a ploy. He turned on his side, noting that her slim back shook only faintly as she tried to hide her distress.
    “Crying will help nothing.”
    “I am not crying.” She cursed softly for her voice was shaking and hoarse, a sure sign that she lied.
    “Of course not. Just sniveling.” He had to clench his hand to keep from caressing her soft, thick golden hair.
    “And what if I am? I have every right to be upset.” She turned onto her back and glared at him.
    “I got you out of jail.”
    “How kind. It might have been nicer if you had not dragged me into this den of thieves.”
    She could see his eyes narrow and wondered at the wisdom of her words. It was hardly clever to insult this man. He literally held her life in his hands. She was too tired and upset to be concerned about that, however.
    “You’re not the smartest little thing, are you.”
    “Clearly not or I wouldn’t be in this